NORTHERN GREAT LAKES SYNOD Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Marquette, Michigan ngls@nglsynod.org E-Notes for October 16, 2018 The Season of Pentecost QUOTE OF THE DAY An agile church is, above all, a Spirit-led church. The Spirit of the Lord who hovered over the waters at creation, who liberated God s people from bondage in Egypt, who called judges and prophets to leadership, who rested upon Jesus as he proclaimed the year of Jubilee and healed the sick, who raised Jesus from the dead, who animated the early Christian community and led it out into mission that very Spirit is doing new things in the church and world today. Our opportunity is to discover and participate in them. ~ from The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovation in an Uncertain Age, p. xiv, by Dwight J. Zscheile.
Looking for a Good Devotional Resource? Check out our synod website and the "Prayfaithfully Resource". People from our synod write weekly devotionals. Go to www.nglsynod.org/prayfaithfully to explore this resource. Make daily devotions a part of your routine. You'll be blessed by this inspiring discipline. Maybe God is inspiring you to write for this synod devotional resource. If interested, contact Betsy Koski in the Synod Office, 906-228-2300 or bakoski@nglsynod.org. TRANSITIONS We celebrate with Holy Trinity, Chassell as they begin a new partnership with Pastor Soren Schmidt. Pastor Schmidt will be installed during a Festival Worship service on Sunday, October 28th, at 4:00 p.m. Clergy are invited to vest. The color of the day is red. A reception will follow. We hold in prayer the people of Faith, Sault Ste. Marie as they say good-bye to Pastor Bre Kinnunen. Pastor Bre's last Sunday will be October 28th as she moves with her husband, Thomas, to the Marquette/Negaunee area as he has accepted a new position. God bless Pastor Bre and her family, and the people of Faith in their farewells and their new beginnings. Our Sympathy and Prayers
go out to the family and friends of Judy Piel, widow of Pastor Dan Piel. Judy died on Monday, October 15, 2018. Her funeral arrangements are pending, with the funeral to be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. ~ Peace to her memory. ~ Professional Leaders Event February 10-11, 2019 Sunday Evening - Monday Afternoon at the Ramada Inn in Marquette, Michigan All rostered leaders and licensed lay ministers of NGLS are invited to attend this Continuing Education event. Rev. Dr. Craig L. Nessan will be the speaker. He is the Academic Dean and Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He teaches courses in the areas of contextual theology, pastoral theology, and theological ethics. He has oversight of the seminary's internship program. More information coming soon! Update on Office of the Campus Pastor
Dear Friends of the Northern Great Lakes Synod, Greetings from Finlandia! As many may know, Pr. Soren Schmidt has taken a call at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chassell. We are grateful for the time and efforts Pr. Soren has given to Finlandia and wish him the very best as he begins a new partnership in ministry. Finlandia now enters a time of transition and discernment. To help facilitate this, we have invited Father Corbin Eddy to serve as Finlandia s visiting campus pastor for this academic year. Father Eddy is a gifted listener and has a caring openness to spiritual traditions other than his own. As the ELCA is committed to working closely with other denominations, Father Eddy will provide a valuable service of intentionally listening and receiving valuable insights gained from a position outside our own Lutheran tradition. Finlandia is grateful for your continued good will, prayer, and support as we reflect carefully about Finlandia's Lutheran identity and future pastoral leadership. Sincerely, Rev. Philip Johnson President of Finlandia University 2019 Marked! Events Confirmation Students & Leaders celebrate your identity as baptized children of God in our Lutheran expression! Attend any event: Sunday March 10, 2019 hosted by Our Savior s, Marinette 4-7 pm CT Sunday March 17, 2019
hosted by Our Redeemer, Newberry 4-7pm ET Sunday March 31, 2019 hosted by Faith, Calumet 4-7pm ET Sunday April 7, 2019 hosted by Ascension, Minocqua 4-7pm CT These events include music, service projects, worship, learning, food and fun. IT S FREE!! MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!
Coming the Fall of 2018!!! You are invited to a mini-festival of Congregational Renewal. This event in each conference will include leadership training, address current concerns, equip you for the future, and offer the blessing of being church with other congregations in your area. Conference 5 Thur.- Oct. 18 Good Shepherd, Peshtigo Register 5:00 pm Meal 5:30 pm Meeting 6 8 pm Conference 3 Sat. - Oct. 27 Ascension, Minocqua Register 8:30 am Meeting with snacks 9 11 am Conference 8 Sat. - Nov. 3 Immanuel, Negaunee Register 8:30 am Meeting with snack 9 11:30 am Conference 2 Sun.- Nov. 4 Mission United, Pelkie Register 2:30 pm Meeting 3-5:00 pm Meal at 5:00 p.m. Conference 4 Sat. - Nov. 10 Bethlehem, Florence Register/Coffee 9:30 am Meeting 10 am 12:30 Meal 12:30 pm Conference elections following meal DON T MISS IT!! The Synod Staff and Conference leadership are planning a positive and energizing event. Come and see what it s all about!
A sign-up sheet should be posted in your church. Sign Up!!! Please send your sign-up sheet to the Synod Office the week before your conference event. Thank you! Houston Youth Gathering Reunion and Synod Youth Brainstorming at Fortune Lake Saturday, November 3rd, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The Fortune Lake Jr./Sr. High Overnight Retreat starts 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 2nd and concludes at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. For those interested, we will stick around for another two hours to talk about the Houston Youth Gathering, sing some songs and brainstorm about other Synod Youth Events! Some of the youth from the awesome Synod Day Band will be playing! There is no additional cost for this "extra 2 hours". Everyone attending the Fortune Lake Retreat is welcome! Fortune Lake is planning the Jr./Sr. High overnight retreat, and we encourage you to sign up with Fortune Lake for that. Go to: www.fortunelake.org If you have any questions, contact Pastor Jim Duehring at jduehring@nglsynod.org.
As part of our involvement in the ministry efforts of the greater church, we have representation on various boards and committees. Two positions that are currently open are on the Lutheran Office for Public Policy of Wisconsin (LOPPW) and Lutheran Social Services. If you have any interest in being a part of this larger ministry effort, or would like more information, please call the Synod Office. You can also go to their websites: https://www.loppw.org/ and https://www.lsswis.org/lss.htm. Pastor Jim Duehring will be glad to talk with any congregation about Stewardship. Contact him at the Synod Office (906/228-2300). Here are some possible resources: www.nglsynod.org/stewardship www.elca.org/stewardship www.ebracingstewardship.com Embracing Stewardship by Charles R. Lane and Grace Duddy Pomroy Ask, Thank, Tell
by Charles R. Lane Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity by Adam Hamilton Mark Your Calendars Now! Rostered Leaders in First 3 Years of Call: The 2018 First Call Theological Event Fall Conference will be held November 11-14, 2018 at St. Anthony Spirituality Center in Marathon, Wisconsin. The cost will remain the same - $300 - which includes all meals and lodging. Please reserve these dates now, and watch for more detailed information to arrive during the latter part of September! Submit Your 'Synod Snapshot' (congregational stories of ministries) Check out the October/November issue of Notes & Quotes by clicking on the link below:
https://jwwmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/ngls/notesquotes/2018-0809.pdf What has your congregation done that has made you proud to be a member? Write a one-page story about the event with a couple of pictures and email it to the Synod Office so it can be featured in a future issue of Notes and Quotes! There will be a new article from Immanuel, Rhinelander in the December/January issue of Notes and Quotes. Musicians Gathering Saturday, October 20, 2018 9:30 a.m. ET Calvary Lutheran Church 10439 Wisconsin Street Rapid River, Michigan All Musicians (organists, pianists, instrumentalists, choir members and directors) in the Synod are invited to attend this gathering for prayer, worship and discussion. The day will begin with morning prayer at 9:30 a.m. and then
coffee, goodies and conversation at 10 a.m. This is an opportunity to get to know one another and become a connected community to share ideas, tips, and resources. For Questions or to Register contact Lucas Wickstrom at lucas@lucas.net or 906-204-6800 If you or your spouse is a member of Portico, you have until November 30, 2018 to receive $200 for each screening/survey completed. $200 each for the Biometric Screening! $200 each for completing the Retirement Planning Tool! These dollars carry over in your Health dollars. Questions? Call Portico. Northern Great Lakes Synod Assembly, ELCA 2019 Announcement! Synod Assembly 2019 will be at Bay College and
Bethany Lutheran Church in Escanaba, Michigan on May 16, 17, 18, Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon. ~ More Display Space and Time to Visit Displays! ~ Attend Multiple Workshops! ~ More Fellowship Time! ~ Keynote Speaker, Dwight Zscheile ~ Enjoy the Banquet at Terrace Bay Inn! ~ Experience a Synod Assembly Worship Service! ~ Come Ready to be Equipped for Ministry! Mark Your Calendars Now!! The "Always Being Made New" Campaign in the Northern Great Lakes Synod 2018 "Always Being Made New" Campaign: The focus will be on ELCA's "Fund for Leaders" & Youth & Young Adults and Northern Great Lakes Synod's "Synod Campus Ministry" efforts. All Congregations received envelopes and bulletin inserts at the Synod Assembly. Plan on dedicating a worship weekend to receive your Always Being Made New offering for this final year of the Campaign. LIFTING UP TO GOD IN PRAYER For the Call Committee of Fortune Lake as they interview candidates for Camp Director
For those recovering from the effects of hurricanes For companion relationships with our firends in Tanzania For our congregations and pastors who are in transition For the Synod Staff as they travel to our Walking Together Events CHECK OUT www.prayfaithfully.org for weekly "Breath Prayer" and Daily Devotions The synod website is www.nglsynod.org Bishop's Articles for Congregational Newsletters: https://www.nglsynod.org/newsletter-articles/ E-Notes is a twice monthly electronic newsletter from the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Bishop Katherine Finegan Copyright 2018 Northern Great Lakes synod, All rights reserved.